Platform for precision optics, thin-film coating, technical ceramics and laser material processing for semiconductors, aerospace and defense
IDEX Materials Science Solutions
Northbrook, IL (US) · Longmont, CO (US) · Albuquerque, NM (US) · Keene, NH (US) · Portage, MI (US) · St Albans, VT (US) · Leicester (GB) · Stevenage (GB) · Ottawa, ON (CA) · Hapert (NL) · Wijchen (NL)New on Amplifa
About IDEX Materials Science Solutions
IDEX Materials Science Solutions (IDEX MSS) is a platform business within IDEX Corporation, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois (USA). The platform brings together a group of specialized precision companies that manufacture optical components and assemblies, high laser damage threshold thin-film coatings, precision forming, technical ceramics and hermetic sealing, laser material processing, and diamond-turned optics from metals, IR crystals and polymers. In addition, UHV cleaning and qualification, optical assembly, metrology, and co-engineering with OEM customers from development through series production are offered. The market teams for semiconductors (Wafer Fab Equipment), aerospace & defense, and precision forming coordinate expertise across the brands and support customers worldwide with local-for-local execution. Applications include wafer-stage precision, micro-cooling structures for liquid cooling in data centers, optical filters for satellite laser communication and Earth observation, as well as guidance optics and high-power lasers. The portfolio includes established brands such as CVI Laser Optics, CVI Infrared Optics, Advanced Thin Films, Iridian Spectral Technologies, LouwersHanique, Millux, Micro-LAM, 603OPTX, M10 EDGE and STC Material Solutions. The parent company IDEX Corporation employs around 9,000 people in approximately 20 countries.
- Site
- Northbrook, IL 60062-7155
- Processes
- Thin-film coating (optical filters/coatings), Precision Forming, Laser-assisted machining, Diamond turning / precision optical machining, Laser material processing, Joining (bonding) of optical components, Optical mounting/Assembly, Ultra-high-vacuum cleaning and qualification
- Materials
- Technical ceramics, Germanium, Chalcogenides, Silicon diffractives, IR crystalline materials, Polymer substrates, Technical glass, Metals
- Certificates
- Metrology/Testing, UHV cleaning and qualification
- Industries
- Semiconductors (Wafer Fab Equipment), Space/Satellite communication (OISL, Earth observation), Defense (guidance optics, high-power lasers), Data centers (liquid cooling, datacom), Precision forming, Space/Satellite communication (OISL, Earth Observation)
- 01
Engineering/co-development with OEM customers
- 02
Precision forming and manufacturing (diamond turning, laser-assisted)
- 03
Thin-film coating
- 04
Joining (bonding, hermetic sealing) and optical assembly
- 05
UHV cleaning and qualification
- 06
Metrology/testing
- 07
Worldwide delivery
Materials & Processes
Technical glass
Technical glass for precision optics, joining and assemblies, among others at LouwersHanique.
Technical ceramics
Technical ceramics for components and hermetic sealing, among others at STC Material Solutions.
IR crystalline materials
Infrared crystals for diamond turning, laser-assisted machining and precision optics.
Germanium
Material for defense optics; IDEX MSS offers alternatives to germanium.
Chalcogenides
Chalcogenides as an alternative to germanium for robust defense optics.
Silicon diffractives
Silicon diffractive elements for high-power defense applications.
Metals
Metals for diamond-turned precision optics, among others at 603OPTX.
Polymer substrates
Polymer substrates for precision optics and diamond turning.
Components & Applications
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin-film coating (optical filters/coatings)Surface | – | – | – | – | Glas, Ceramics, IR-crystalline materials |
| Precision FormingForming | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser-assisted machiningMachining | – | – | – | – | Metals, IR crystalline materials, Polymers |
| Diamond turning / precision optical machiningMachining | – | – | – | – | Metals, IR crystalline materials, Polymers |
| Laser material processingSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Joining (bonding) of optical componentsJoining | – | – | – | – | Glas, Ceramics |
| Optical mounting/AssemblyAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ultra-high-vacuum cleaning and qualificationTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Hermetic sealing technical ceramicsJoining | – | – | – | – | Technical ceramics |
| Laser ablation of micro-cooling structuresSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| MetrologyTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality
The platform offers metrology and testing, UHV cleaning and qualification, as well as compliance-oriented, reliable delivery with local-for-local support in the customers' regions.
| Evidence | Northbrook, IL (US) |
|---|---|
| Metrology/Testing | |
| UHV cleaning and qualification |
History
- 1972
Founding of CVI Laser Optics in Albuquerque, NM.
- 1982
Founding of CVI Infrared Optics in Leicester, UK.
- 1988
Founding of parent company IDEX Corporation through a KKR carve-out from Houdaille Industries; IPO follows in 1989.
- 1998
Founding of Iridian Spectral Technologies in Ottawa, Canada.
- 2022
IDEX acquires the Dutch Muon Group; LouwersHanique and Millux become part of IDEX.